The mathematics department aims to develop our students’ ability to solve mathematical problems independently.
This requires them to respond positively to challenge when presented with increasingly complex problems in a variety of contexts. We help students to achieve this by developing higher-order thinking skills such as conjecture, deduction, reasoning and proof. We also require students to be able to articulate their thinking and justify the techniques they have used in their mathematical arguments. In KS3, we place a particular importance on algebraic study, which helps develops the foundations needed in the later years. Students have three lessons a week both in Year 7 and Year 8. In KS4 (which begins in Year 9), students are placed in broad sets according to their performance in assessments throughout Year 8, where they continue to have three lessons a week for all three years. We follow the OCR examination board. In 2019, we were delighted to have 100% achieving grade 5 – 9 and even more impressively have 94% achieve grade 7 – 9. Almost half of the cohort (48%) achieved Grade 9 GCSE. A good proportion of our Year 11 students also go on to study the further mathematics GCSE with superb results, reflecting not only their mathematical ability but also the drive and motivation of our students. In the Sixth Form, the department delivers the A-level course also with the OCR examination board. Results are excellent with approximately 46% of students attaining Grades A*-A in recent years.
Outside of lessons, students have the opportunity to participate in differing levels of the individual national Mathematics Challenge competitions and also the various national team competitions. Students are supported through weekly lunchtime drop-in sessions where they are given the opportunity for one-to-one tuition, plus there is also a mentoring system in place with older students providing advice and help on a weekly basis. In sixth form we have excellent support for the Sixth Term Examination Papers with students taking weekly preparation sessions. After studying A-level many students go on to study degrees which contain Mathematics as a key element such as mathematics, engineering and economics.